How would you compare the politics of Gilded Age with present-day politics?

The main aspect of Gilded Age politics that people focus
on today is the corruption that seemed to be prevalent in the political system.  This
was a time when presidential administrations were wracked with scandals like the Credit
Mobilier scandal.  It was said that big businesses like the railroads "owned" US
Senators.  The government, it seemed, was run for the benefit of big
businesses.

The question then is whether politics today are
like this.  Of course, there are many who would argue that government does work only for
the rich.  However, the government today (inefficient and riddled with problems though
it is) is much more transparent and honest than it was in those days.  There have been
presidential scandals, of course, but nothing along the lines of the scandals of the
Gilded Age.  Senators cannot possibly be bought in the same way they once could since
any such overt bribery would quickly be brought to light by the
media.

So, while we have many justified complaints about
our government today, it is nowhere near as corrupt as the government was during the
Gilded Age.